Ms. Thiriez calls the exhibit a “snapshot in many different directions” of early Hong Kong. “This is how it started,” she says. This photo of government buildings and Hong Kong’s cathedral captures the crowded harbor in the distance, showing how much greater the distance once was between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

Ms. Thiriez calls the exhibit a “snapshot in many different directions” of early Hong Kong. “This is how it started,” she says. This photo of government buildings and Hong Kong’s cathedral captures the crowded harbor in the distance, showing how much greater the distance once was between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.

Hong Kong’s fascination with horse racing has deep roots, as this shot from the early 1860s shows. In those early years, the annual three-day racing event at Happy Valley all but shut down the city, Ms. Thiriez says, with horses brought from as far as away as Mongolia and Australia to compete.

Hong Kong’s fascination with horse racing has deep roots, as this shot from the early 1860s shows. In those early years, the annual three-day racing event at Happy Valley all but shut down the city, Ms. Thiriez says, with horses brought from as far as away as Mongolia and Australia to compete.

The details on the clothing of this Hong Kong-based comprador--a go-between for local Chinese and Western commercial interests—show he’s quite wealthy; it’s the finest silk. Ms. Thiriez says the relative lack of props in this 1861 portrait is a sign the subject feels he “doesn’t need to show himself off. He’s totally integrated into the new merchant society.”

The details on the clothing of this Hong Kong-based comprador--a go-between for local Chinese and Western commercial interests—show he’s quite wealthy; it’s the finest silk. Ms. Thiriez says the relative lack of props in this 1861 portrait is a sign the subject feels he “doesn’t need to show himself off. He’s totally integrated into the new merchant society.”

This 1870 shot from Queen's Road Central in Sai Ying Pun shows the western part of early Hong Kong. Because land was cheaper in Sai Ying Pun than in Central or Sheung Wan, the area was used for many public buildings, including churches, mental asylums and a hospital for sexually transmitted diseases. The government developed the district into a Chinese quarter after many mainland Chinese fled the violence of the Taiping rebellion in the 1850s and ’60s.

This 1870 shot from Queen's Road Central in Sai Ying Pun shows the western part of early Hong Kong. Because land was cheaper in Sai Ying Pun than in Central or Sheung Wan, the area was used for many public buildings, including churches, mental asylums and a hospital for sexually transmitted diseases. The government developed the district into a Chinese quarter after many mainland Chinese fled the violence of the Taiping rebellion in the 1850s and ’60s.

This shot of a ferry to Canton, dating from between 1867 and 1874, is one of many in the exhibit showing the importance of the waterways in early Hong Kong. You “can see how the city grew up from the harbor,” Mr. Lai says.

This shot of a ferry to Canton, dating from between 1867 and 1874, is one of many in the exhibit showing the importance of the waterways in early Hong Kong. You “can see how the city grew up from the harbor,” Mr. Lai says.

This 1880s shot shows Victoria Harbour, with Central and Sheung Wan in the background. The curators selected the image, even though it was outside the scope the exhibit, because they could not find an earlier photo showing what would become the iconic view of the city's skyline.

This 1880s shot shows Victoria Harbour, with Central and Sheung Wan in the background. The curators selected the image, even though it was outside the scope the exhibit, because they could not find an earlier photo showing what would become the iconic view of the city's skyline.

Hong Kong Chinese people typically preferred portraits showing them sitting upright and facing the camera directly, as in this example from 1870. The sidetable was a common prop, helping keep the subject steady for the 30 seconds or longer it took to expose the plate.

Hong Kong Chinese people typically preferred portraits showing them sitting upright and facing the camera directly, as in this example from 1870. The sidetable was a common prop, helping keep the subject steady for the 30 seconds or longer it took to expose the plate.

Some of the first patches of land reclaimed from the sea, in the 1850s, found a sporting use. The grounds of the Hong Kong Cricket Club in Central became Chater Gardens in 1975 after serving the HKCC for 124 years.

Some of the first patches of land reclaimed from the sea, in the 1850s, found a sporting use. The grounds of the Hong Kong Cricket Club in Central became Chater Gardens in 1975 after serving the HKCC for 124 years.

Taken from what’s now the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, this shot overlooks Central and the busy harbor. The exhibit covers a period of rising industrialization, says Mr. Lai, as evidenced in the increasing number of steam-powered ships.

Taken from what’s now the Hong Kong Zoological and Botanical Gardens, this shot overlooks Central and the busy harbor. The exhibit covers a period of rising industrialization, says Mr. Lai, as evidenced in the increasing number of steam-powered ships.

The buildings of some of Hong Kong’s leading trading companies, including Dent’s and Jardine, Matheson and Co., line the waterfront in this 1868 photo. “If you look back at history and then look at the present, you’ll have a better idea for the future,” says Leong Ka Tai, chairman of the Hong Kong Photo Festival.

The buildings of some of Hong Kong’s leading trading companies, including Dent’s and Jardine, Matheson and Co., line the waterfront in this 1868 photo. “If you look back at history and then look at the present, you’ll have a better idea for the future,” says Leong Ka Tai, chairman of the Hong Kong Photo Festival.